Chapter 561: Qing Dynasty Spirit Spring System (12)

After finishing breakfast and accompanying Defei for a cup of digestion tea, Xie Yang set off for the Taiyisuo.

Imperial Physician Chang was advanced in years and a leading figure at the Taiyi Shu; even when on duty, he merely held court at the Taiyisuo.

Unless the Emperor summoned him or assigned him to take a pulse at a specific palace—for instance, when Honghui had a high fever that wouldn't break for several days, Si Ye had entered the palace in the middle of the night to petition Kangxi, and only with Kangxi's verbal decree was Imperial Physician Chang summoned—one could only secure an ordinary imperial physician.

Xie Yang's arrival, however, gave Imperial Physician Chang something to busy himself with.

He first tested the level of medical knowledge she had explored on her own, discovering that she was not only well-versed in the pharmacology of various herbs but also fundamentally understood human acupuncture points and pulse diagnosis; all she lacked was clinical experience and the application of acupuncture.

In terms of the medical curriculum, she had already mastered a wealth of theoretical knowledge, leaving only practice.

Imperial Physician Chang brought out the insights and summaries he had recorded over his years at the Taiyi Shu, combined them with classic case studies, and taught her how to analyze them. He promised that in the future, if he went to any palace to take a pulse, he would bring her along, let her carefully observe his acupuncture or prescription methods, and upon returning to the Taiyisuo, he would test her, correcting and supplementing based on her answers.

Though it seemed like only a short morning, Xie Yang gained quite a lot.

At noon, she returned to Yonghe Palace to rest.

Unexpectedly, she encountered Shisi Ye Yinzhen.

"Yo, has my big niece returned from her medical studies?"

Sixteen-year-old Yinzhen, his voice still carrying a hint of a cracking adolescent tone, lounged on the couch and spoke to Xie Yang with a sarcastic air:

"I heard you gave Lao Shi several jars of mosquito-repellent ointment? What? Does your own uncle not even get one jar?"

After speaking, he turned his head to complain to Defei: "Mother, look at this! You tell your son to treat Fourth Brother well, but how does Fourth Brother treat your son? He keeps Lao Shi by his side all day long, while leaving his own younger brother aside. My big niece just follows his example."

Xie Yang caught a glimpse of Defei's expression darkening.

Had she believed Shisi Ye's words? Did she have an issue with her cheap father?

Thinking for a moment, she spoke up: "Fourteenth Uncle, when younger brother Honghui was ill, Thirteenth Uncle specifically came to visit Honghui and even brought us gifts, which is why your niece gave him the mosquito-repellent ointment—it's just a matter of courtesy."

The implication was that as an uncle, he hadn't even visited when his nephew was ill, so there was naturally no such thing as "courtesy" to be exchanged.

Defei suddenly looked at her youngest son: "Lao Shi, you didn't go to your Fourth Brother's house to see Honghui?"

"Uh..."

Yinzhen opened his mouth, wanting to find a reasonable excuse for himself.

But with his hesitation, what else was there for Defei not to understand?

She pointed at him in anger.

Before she could reprimand him, she saw Yinzhen slide off the couch: "Mother, your son just remembered there's something at the mansion that needs handling, I'll be heading back first."

"That scoundrel!"

Defei cursed through gritted teeth.

A palace maid at her side rubbed her back to soothe her.

Xie Yang couldn't just stand by, so she poured her a cup of water: "Grandmother, did your granddaughter say something wrong?"

"You did nothing wrong! It is your Fourteenth Uncle who is being unreasonable." Defei took the water she poured, drank a few sips, and calmed her anger. "You did the right thing; otherwise, Grandmother would still be fooled by your Fourteenth Uncle. Your father and mother are not good with words, and even when they are wronged, they dare not come to Grandmother to complain, which only encourages your Fourteenth Uncle's crooked ways. Next time something like this happens, if your father doesn't say anything, you come and tell Grandmother."

"Alright." Xie Yang nodded in agreement.

Afterward, she accompanied Defei for some refreshments.

Perhaps seeing that she liked seafood, the noon snacks included not only pastries like jujube paste cakes, Sachima, and five-nut cakes, but also several savory seafood snacks: dried scallop and shrimp radish cake, crystal emerald shrimp dumplings, and ham and mackerel siu mai.

There were also iced drinks like milk tea and osmanthus dew.

It was much better than the food at the Beile Mansion.

Thinking about it, besides the standard rations for palace concubines, Defei was likely dipping into her own private funds.

"Thank you for the hospitality, Grandmother! Your granddaughter loves it!"

"As long as you like it."

Seeing her granddaughter eating with such relish, Defei subconsciously ate a few more bites herself, which delighted the maids and matrons serving her: "It would be wonderful if Haiyin Gege came often! With Gege here to accompany her for meals and snacks, Her Highness is in a good mood and her appetite is much better."

"Indeed." Defei laughed. "Watching Haiyin eat, my own appetite has opened up. Who is on duty in the small kitchen today? Reward them."

Xie Yang: "..."

It was likely the effect of those few pieces of Spirit Spring Peppermint Candy.

After finishing the snacks, she went to the Warm Pavilion that Defei had ordered to be prepared for her to rest.

Beneath the floor tiles of the Warm Pavilion were crisscrossing fire channels, with an entrance to the channels in a pit. In winter, a burning stove would be pushed into the pit, and the heat would circulate through the channels, warming the floor of the Warm Pavilion and thus the room.

However, in summer, the Warm Pavilion was no different from an ordinary room.

She lay on the kang, which was covered with a new felt rug and an ivory mat. Initially, she thought she wouldn't be able to sleep, but unexpectedly, she fell asleep quickly while smelling the fragrance. When she woke up, it was already 2:45 PM. She got up and had another round of snacks—this time Jinshi Nanyang Bird's Nest Geng and a plate of fresh fruit—and after eating, she continued to the Taiyisuo to learn medicine from Imperial Physician Chang.

Just like that, Xie Yang would leave in the morning and return to the mansion in the evening.

However, except for the first day when she reported to the Taiyisuo in the palace, she went to the Taiyi Shu on Qianmen Street thereafter.

It was only after going to the Taiyi Shu that Xie Yang learned Imperial Physician Chang was actually also proficient in medicinal cuisine.

Not only Imperial Physician Chang, but other imperial physicians also had a trick or two up their sleeves.

Some were skilled in the Five Animal Frolics, some had deep research into nourishing medicinal pastes, and others were very adept at acupuncture point massage.

Imperial Physician Chang even organized everyone to gather and exchange or demonstrate their unique skills.

Xie Yang couldn't think of a unique skill to demonstrate, so she distributed the Spirit Spring Peppermint Candy she had boiled a few days prior to everyone, as a token of thanks for the old physicians' selfless sharing of their skills.

"Hmm! Peppermint rock candy? No! Not just peppermint; it also has lotus leaf and poria, right?"

"I also tasted a hint of dried tangerine peel and licorice."

"Did you all not taste the angelica dahurica and agastache?"

"Besides that, there seems to be a hint of a fragrance that is medicinal yet not quite..."

Xie Yang: "..."

This group of old imperial physicians really had discerning palates!

They had actually managed to discern the taste of the Spirit Spring, which was slightly different from sweet ancient well water.

Fortunately, they didn't press for details, smilingly praising it as "tasting good," tucking the remaining candy into their pouches to take home for their grandchildren, and ending the topic.

【Congratulations to the Host for completing Daily Task 1—at least thirty people praised the food cooked with the Spirit Spring, reward: 3L of Spirit Spring. Hehe!】

After clocking out and returning to the manor, she stopped by the Main Courtyard to pay her respects to Si Fujin.

Ever since she went to the Taiyi Shu to study medicine, Si Fujin had exempted her from the morning and evening greetings, but she still had to show her face every now and then; if she hugged the mistress's golden thigh well, she would be the one to benefit.

Before she had even returned to her own Small Side Courtyard, Xie Yang received the reward from the Sub-system—3L of Spirit Spring Water.

She had distributed a total of thirty-some peppermint candies today; she hadn't expected to complete the first daily Task so quickly.

Did those imperial physicians feed the peppermint candies to their grandchildren as soon as they got home?